West Side City Councilwoman Evette Brantley proclaimed the other day she will not vote for a budget this year that includes a tax increase. In fact, she says she’s ready to put her house up for sale and roll out if the council passes a tax hike. Just in case you folks from the West Side think Evette needs some encouragement from constituents, Brantley will join her council partner John Olson for a district meeting on the budget Saturday at 3 p.m. at Woods End Deli, 900 Wood Avenue. Fire up those sandwiches.
Brantley and Olson represent the 132nd District that includes the Central and Bassick voting precincts. It’s the territory of former council members Bob “Troll” Walsh and Lisa “Honey” Parziale, both of whom are still engaged in district issues. The 132nd District is one of the city’s melting pots of working class in the southern portion of the district and higher assessed homes in the Brooklawn neighborhood.
Brooklawn, in particular, is one of the higher turnout areas of the city, along and inside Brooklawn Avenue. Homeowners in the neighborhood, based on the budget proposal before the City Council, are looking at a large tax hit. These voters will become mighty cranky with another tax increase.
*** They can discuss the budget ’til the chickens come home to roost but it’s really just a political gesture on their part due to it being a local elections year. There’s nothing at this point they can do except to hopefully vote “NO” to not accept another unbalanced city proposed budget that includes a tax and mil rate increase! What should be asked is why they voted for giving the Mayor the power to hire or fire any non-union worker or pay them what he wants without city council input or approval. Along with their support of the vote “yes” charter revision question, and other questions while they’re available there in front of their constituents, no? *** HOT-SEAT TIME ***
They may also wonder why they have allowed themselves to become so weak in recent years. The newer Council persons serving less than two years are not up to speed on how the administration considers them. The sharing of the 2014 City operating budget with the CT Post on a Monday morning and then Mayor Bill’s admission at the evening Council meeting he would share it with them on Tuesday was understood by John Olson who spoke up.
Since I use the term watchdog frequently and it is a useful word in reference to checks and balances in governance, it is rare that anyone barks. Now I am going to be told some Council persons bark behind the scenes. That may happen. But that is not a particularly useful watchdog behavior, because it does nothing to assist the public in seeing how their trust is abused and their pockets are picked.
Please bark, loud and clear. You may wake up a few more of your fellow Council persons, not necessarily the ones who are being hand-fed and benefited for they have the desperate conflict of barking at (or biting) the hand that feeds them. So they may appear groggy and unaware. As for the rest, when you are asked for your very important vote, make sure you have all the facts in hand from the administration in writing so you can defend your territory, if it comes to that at some point. Less use of the consent calendar would assist in that process, for instance. If every action of the Council had to have a formal recommendation of the Council Chair, with the backup in writing including rationale, money and time issues, and consideration of why it might be rejected, City Council meetings would be better attended and Council representatives might be better respected publicly. Who wants to watch a “rubber stamp machine?” Who will come out to see “watchdogs at work?” Time will tell.
I am so glad to see these two engaging the community! Their districts are home to many voters who have great ideas. Bravo to Olson and Brantley for recognizing the need for communication, and for recognizing their constituents as a valuable resource! Hopefully this meeting will be well attended by members from other districts whose Council persons have not yet stepped forward to receive public input. There are a lot of smart folks in Bridgeport and maybe a private citizen can offer up a solution that will make a difference.
Congratulations to Councilwoman Brantley and Councilman Olson for holding a Town Meeting this afternoon on the budget. I was at the meeting. There was NO support for ANY tax increase. I offered to help both of them to figure out how to cut the budget to avoid a tax increase. We’ll see if they take me up on my offer.